A Coherent Sense Of Identity Vs. Multiple Social Masks

A Coherent Sense of Identity vs Multiple Social Masks

In his In Defense of Masks, Kenneth Gergen considers that it is challenging, almost impossible, and even “poor psychology” to find and stick to a single identity in all social interactions. Therefore, he argues with Polonius’ advice to his son Laertes persuading the young man that it is vital to be always and with everybody true to one’s self. On the one hand, Gergen asserts that a healthy personality should develop “a firm and coherent sense of identity” to comply with moral and religious values. Nevertheless, one should also take into account the society, which imposes rather different masks on the individual. Hence, there is obviously a controversy in the need to develop a coherent sense

This statement is consistent with Gergen’s idea that masks, which individuals have, are not necessarily fake. On the contrary, they become a part of a person’s self. From my personal experience, I noticed that when I took a role of an assertive, confident personality, self-assured and satisfied with my achievements, this identity gradually became something more than an assumed mask. It positively influenced my self-evaluation, received positive reinforcement from my psychological reactions, and thus turned into my own self. Moreover, there is a danger when a person has to deal with certain people, with whom it is necessary to be rude, harsh, and altogether not so nice as one can draw in the imagined portrait of own personality. I know it from my life experience and can assert that such situations happen in real life. The only way out to deal with such disruptive people and their adverse influence on the self-esteem and self-evaluation is the development of a coherent sense of identity, which will be resistant to negative impact. These were two examples where both ideas can be helpful, namely those of being able to wear positive social masks and possess a consistent sense of